[Dave S]

This is a local problem that local people in Foley's district will handle. I doubt that most of Middle America even know who Foley is or cares. This scandal is strictly limited to politicalholics on the blogs and in the MSM.

Ever watch the evening news or Jay Leno or David Letterman, etc. They have been beating this to death. I wouldnt be surprised if by the end of the week more people knew who that a Republican congressmen had to resign because he was messing with a congressional page than know who the Vice President is. Definitely more than know who Hastert or Pelosi are.

You seem to overlook that dealing with issue is going to require a lot of the GOP leadership's time when they should be dealing with the election. It has the head of the congresional campaign committee at loggerhead with Hastert. Hastert and other GOP leaders will probably be less inclined to go out and campaign for other congressmen because they dont want to be dogged by questions about Foley. Its going to make it difficult for Republicans to run a values campaign. Instead of talking about national security and the war on terror, now the discussion is about abuse of power and the do nothing congress.

[singfreedom]

I don't think it has to be though. There are tactics that can be used to divert attention back to the important issues. Like reminding voters of what happened with Franks, Studds, et al., and how there stories were handled so very differently. After all Foley is GONE.

It can be done but the Congresscritters are gonna have to be prepared to answer in just that fashion, not some long drawn out long winded semi apologetic answer.